Sugar Hill Lupines - Wildflower Photo Spots

I've been wanting to go to Sugar Hill, New Hampshire for years to see the yearly lupine blooms.  Unfortunately, something has always stopped me from making the drive during it's short season.  Usually, as a teacher June would be my craziest and most hectic month of work.  That, coupled with the two hour drive each way from my home on the Seacoast, and also a photo trip not being the best choice for toddlers kept me away.  Also, the town celebrates the blooms with a yearly lupine festival and although this sounds wonderful to many, I'm not one for crowds and stressful parking situations.  However... this year due to COVID, the festival has been canceled, summer break started early, and the kids are still in daycare part time.  For the first time in YEARS, I realized I could go!  Perhaps it's a perfect time for you to go too? It's not too late!

Here's how to recreate this adventure...

Adventure: Walking through fields of lupines in Sugar Hill, New Hampshire

Getting there: The small town of Sugar Hill is located on the northwestern outskirts of the White Mountain National Forest. From Seacoast New Hampshire, take I-93 North.  Take exit 38 toward NH-18/NH-116/NH-117/NH-142 toward Franconia/Sugar Hill.  Take NH-117 toward Sugar Hill.  See below for my photo spots!

When To Go: Peak lupine season in Sugar Hill is the second week in June.  I went June 16, 2020 and it was peak!  Now it is June 18 and told still peak.

Photo Spots:  I made three photo stops on my photo tour but you could easily have more.  Here they are below:

Photo Stop 1:  Polly's Pancake Parlor. 

Polly's Pancake Parlor is located at 672 Sugar Hill Road and was the first stop on my photo tour.  Due to COVID, the adorable breakfast restaurant was closed which left a wide open parking lot for my first stop.  Across from the diner is a large field with a moderate patch (I'd guess half acre) of closely growing lupines.  Views of the mountains are a beautiful backdrop, as is the old barn with a white horse casually munching.  Previous visitors have made trails through the flowers.  It was gorgeous!

Walking through lupines across from Polly's Pancake Parlor in Sugar Hill, NH.

Barn across from Polly's Pancake Parlor.

Photo Stop 2: Sugar Hill Road and the Stone Wall.  

From Polly's, continue up Sugar Hill Road and there will be another field on your right.  Multiple cars were pulled over for this spot.  A stone wall along the road opened to a path to enter.  This spot is more packed with flowers and tight trails wove through the blooms.  In the back of the field are some large bounders which make a great photo spot or way to climb up and view the flowers.  There are no mountain views here but the flowers were the prettiest I saw. 

Dense lupines on Sugar Hill Road.

Enjoying sitting on a rock surrounded by lupines.

Photo Stop 3: St Matthew's Chapel

From Photo Stop 2, continue up Sugar Hill Road about a mile to where it curves and you will see St. Matthew's Chapel.  This is a well photographed white steepled church provides sightseers a classic view of the church and lupine fields below.  There was a lot of yard work being done the day we were there, so I passed on getting photos at this spot - NEXT YEAR!  Any google search of "St Matthew's Chapel in Sugar Hill" will reward you with a preview.

Photo Stop 4: Sunset Hill Conservation Land

From St Matthew's, continue on Sugar Hill Road through the curve and take a left onto Sunset Hill Rd.  You will see an iconic red barn and the "Pioneer Wedding Barn" business.  Up the road on the left is a conservation area including a lupine field with views of mountains beyond.  Sightseers parked along the road and strolled through the acre side lupine patch.  The blooms here weren't as close together.

Red Barn and lupines on Sunset Hill Road.

Recommendations:

- I am not aware of how crazy and crowded this get's during the actual lupine festival but Tuesday (June 16th) I didn't have to share the space with many other people.  It also could be much more crowded on weekends. Per CDC guidelines, I wore a face covering when passing other photographers.

- Don't trample new paths.   I stuck to paths already broken in.

- Be patient and courteous to other photographers.  No one likes a "photo-bomber".

- There are no bathroom facilities at these locations.  Plan ahead.  

Afterwards:

After my photo session, my friend Kaley and I drove five minutes away to the Mt Kinsman Trailhead and enjoyed a hike up Bald Mountain! 

Thank you to the instagrammers who helped me find these spots!  Be sure to follow me for more photos and ideas at FreelanceAdventurer or on Facebook at The Freelance Adventurer.